Lithe Nikita Sahay, a former Army officer is much more than that charming petite frame she possesses; she is a true-blue soldier armed to take on the catwalk with her untamed passion and full fire approach to fashion, as a first timer at AIFW Autumn-Winter 2015
By Asmita Aggarwal
Jamnagar-born and Jodhpur-raised, Nikita Sahay, is not your usual glam struck, small-town girl who came to Delhi to court the arch lights. Rather, she has a list of noteworthy accomplishments under her enviable waist—–from being an Army Officer (trained at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai), to leading convoys at the disturbed Udhampur area in Jammu and Kashmir, she has literally and metaphorically faced the fire.
It wasnt an easy journey, to becoming a young officer; running 30 km (with bag and rifles) to losing 20 kg to pursue her dream, modelling, Nikita is a face to watch out for. Being five feet ten inches tall, I went from 59 to 79 kg, in the three-and-a-half years I spent in the Army. When I decided to quit, much to the horror of my parents, my dad is in the Air Force, I swore to get fit, she smiles. And this English (Hons) graduate from Delhi University, did with a firm resolve, running 10 km a day, in summer wearing a sweater.
Her reasons to quit Army were simple, she aspired to be a catwalk model, inspired by watching as she describes the most colourful and beautiful faces on the ramp; from Milind Soman, Mehr Jessia, Arjun Rampal to Sheetal Malhar. I used to imitate Jesse Randhawa and her walk, my personal favourite, it looked like she was really giving it her all. As a viewer you can tell, who is 100 per cent there, and others who are just running after fame. These were the real supermodels, and they redefined print campaigns, unlike now when Bollywood has permeated every sphere of advertising, she adds wistfully.
With no 70MM dreams, Nikita, who is also running a pre-school in Gurgoan, Productive Minds, is juggling many hats, at the age of 26. To be a model you dont need to have the appearance or symmetry of an Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, what will help you is charisma. Also you must have patience to be able to wait for the right projects; not be in a hurry to sign on the dotted line for money. Preparation is key, to being a fabulous model, much like acting, which requires homework. I never wore heels, when I knew that would be a requirement, I practised at home, to get my walk right. It is a bit like the Army, those who join for the salary will never be good officers, but those who are passionate, will always be great leaders, she smiles.
With support from her father, who encouraged Nikita to do what really motivated her, she admits that coming from a family of academicians, education was an area that interested her. I am a middle-class girl, we were told to keep a Plan B in place, pre-school is my back up option. As my parents wanted stability factor to remain when I decided to enter modelling, they thought a school, where currently I am an absentee director, will give me the chance to explore what I want, with something already working in the background. We take kids from one-and-a-half years to six and it is amazing to see how some of these tiny tots can stump you with their quick wit and active understanding, she chortles.
With a TVC with Shah Rukh Khan under her belt, and having just finished a sassy campaign with swimwear designers Shivan and Narresh, Nikita, is not big on planning for the future. Right now, it is just modelling and it would be no even if a Bollywood film came my way, she concludes.
